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United Premier Soccer League Names Jim Antonakas as East Coast Director

Widely-Respected Mass United FC Owner Takes New Role with UPSL League Office

Published Oct 10, 2018

October 10, 2018 – Los Angeles – The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) is pleased to announce the addition of Jim Antonakas as East Coast Director.

Antonakas combines this new role to his responsibilities as Owner of the New England Player Development Program (NEPDP), which operates Mass United Football Club, the UPSL 2018 Spring Season Northeast Conference Playoff Champion.

United Premier Soccer League National Director Paul Lapointe said, "I am excited to work with Jim. His experience and knowledge of the game stretches beyond our borders and I am honored to share the battlefield with Jim. Our American soccer future is bright."

Antonakas, 50, will focus on developing UPSL's tier structure on the East Coast, leading the way for further league expansion to the UPSL's Women's Division, Masters Division and Youth Academy.

UPSL East Coast Director Jim Antonakas said, "I am very excited to work with the UPSL on expanding the league's East Coast footprint and developing its Pro Premier Division to create an elite platform for teams on the East Coast like there has never been before. We are also very much looking forward to introducing the UPSL Women's Division and Masters Division, as well as the Youth Academy and Futsal components as we build out on the infrastructure being created by the UPSL."

The 2009 USASA Region I and National Coach of the Year, Antonakas was a prep standout before going on to play at University of Massachusetts in Boston, where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business, majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Finance.

Antonakas served as Head Coach of the Massachusetts Men's Select Team Program and the Massachusetts Under-23 Men's Select Team for more than 10 years, and as Chairman of the Donnelly Cup, a regional USASA competition.

"Jim has tirelessly promoted and developed the elite player program in Massachusetts Soccer and USASA Region I for many years," Lapointe said. "He has been coaching for 30 years on different levels between youth and adult club teams, and has been on many championship teams in local and national competitions."

Antonakas launched Mass United FC and its affiliated youth academy in 2009, and most recently started Global Pro Soccer Exposure (GPSE), a program to create opportunities for elite players to showcase their talent on a global stage.

Mass United FC visiting France in 2016 on its first international tour, playing matches against Stade Rennais FC and En Avant de Guingcamp of France's Ligue 1.

Antonakas also operates New England Champions League (NECL), which is based in Massachusetts and is proudly affiliated with USASA, U.S. Soccer, USSF and FIFA.

United Premier Soccer League

The UPSL was formed in 2011 and currently includes more than 300 teams in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. UPSL is the fastest growing Pro Development League in the USA, with 400-plus teams targeted for 2018 Spring Season. Each UPSL team is individually owned and operated, and is responsible for maintaining either UPSL Pro Premier Division or Championship Division minimum standards.

UPSL teams are all eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Rounds through the leagues affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).

More information about UPSL can be found at www.upslsoccer.com or by following the league on Facebook (www.facebook.com/upslsoccer) and Twitter (@upslsoccer).